The two political party headquarters in East Bell County are filled with bumper stickers and volunteers proving loyalty to their candidates. The lines at polling places are growing as Election Day draws closer. It all comes down to Tuesday night when voters will watch in anticipation to see which nominee - Sen. John McCain or Sen. Barack Obama - will be chosen as the 44th president of the United States.

AP Business Writer WASHINGTON - With the global economy at risk of a deep recession, many battered areas of the economy stand to suffer more damage in coming months. Other industries, though, seem poised to withstand even a severe downturn.

With more retailers opening in the Bird Creek area of southwest Temple and Market Heights in Harker Heights, Bell County residents will have more choices than ever before when they start Christmas shopping this season. Bird Creek, anchored by Target, Home Depot and Best Buy, opened just before Christmas in 2007. And Market Heights, anchored by Target, Dick´s Sporting Goods and Old Navy, wasn´t open at all.

City officials hope an athletic park in conceptual planning stages in northwest Temple could supply needed facilities in a growing residential and economic area. Since the park is only in its conceptual stage, no funding has been set aside or planned for the park, according to Temple Parks and Leisure Services officials.

Don´t be confused Tuesday with the special election at the top of the ballot. The winner - either Sam Murphey, Danny Daniel or Ralph Sheffield - will serve only until mid-January 2009. To vote for the full, two-year term candidate, vote straight party, or go to the box just below the state senator District 24 box. There you have three choices for a full term - Sheffield, Murphey or Libertarian Chris Lane.

LUBBOCK - It was as risky a pass as Graham Harrell has ever thrown - and also the most important. With the final seconds ticking off and Texas Tech trailing by a point, the Texas Tech quarterback saw Michael Crabtree in double coverage and let it fly. The All-American wide receiver snagged it on the sideline, shook off a defender and sprinted into the end zone with one second left.

MARSHALL - It can´t be said with assurance that Mary Hardin-Baylor finally found its tailback - not after eight weeks that have proved nothing is guaranteed. But six games into the conference schedule there´s no doubt the Crusaders found what they´ve been looking for.

WACO - Robert Griffin stood at the podium and heaped all the blame on himself. After all, in Griffin´s mind, it was his mistake - the first interception of his college career - that cost Baylor a shot to upset No. 14-ranked Missouri in a 31-28 loss Saturday afternoon at Floyd Casey Stadium.

The Temple College Leopards will face more difficult challenges this basketball season - much more difficult, in fact - than they did in their opening game. But Lone Star College-North Harris was the only opponent Temple could face Saturday afternoon at TC Gym, and the Leopards did exactly what they wanted to do - specifically, blow away the Hurricanes.

As much as we like to elevate sports in our society and assign cultural significance to them, they typically take a backseat to concerns of imminent national importance and the well-being of human life. During war years of history past, it was common to suspend major athletic events for multiple years while nations focused their attention on the war effort.

COLLEGE STATION - Texas A&M coach Mike Sherman needed more than halftime to tell his players what they needed to fix to beat Colorado on Saturday. Sherman delivered a quick pep talk on the sideline after the break and the Aggies took over in the third quarter and beat the Buffaloes 24-17 at Kyle Field.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Tim Tebow walked out of the locker room wearing a gray, protective boot on his left foot. The Florida quarterback said he sprained his ankle on a 4-yard run in the third quarter. He just as easily could have told everyone he hurt it kicking around Georgia.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Mention the Dallas Cowboys, and Justin Tuck doesn´t hide the feelings of the New York Giants. “They hate us and we hate them,” the defensive end said in all seriousness.

MINNEAPOLIS - October is over. It´s time for the Houston Texans to hit the road. Their revival last month was fueled by the suddenly unstoppable passing attack of wide receiver Andre Johnson and quarterback Matt Schaub. It was also aided in part by a disruption in the schedule.

FORT WORTH - Carl Edwards looks at the last three NASCAR Sprint Cup races of 2008 and sees nothing but opportunity. Sure, the series runner-up trails leader Jimmie Johnson by a daunting 183 points. And with Johnson needing only to finish ninth or better in the remaining events to win his third consecutive Cup title, it probably isn´t a good omen for Edwards that Johnson has finished ninth or better in each of the seven Chase for the championship races so far this year - or that Johnson is the defending winner of today´s Dickies 500 at Texas Motor Speedway.